David Tennant hints at a potential return to Doctor Who

Doctor Who star David Tennant remains open to the possibility of making future appearances in the series, even after his highly anticipated return in the upcoming 60th anniversary specials. Tennant served as the leading actor in Doctor Who from 2005 to 2010, initially debuting as the Tenth Doctor in the Christmas special of 2005. He concluded his tenure as the show's protagonist in yet another Christmas special titled "The End of Time," which concluded with the regeneration of the Tenth Doctor into Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor.

Tennant has made two more appearances in Doctor Who since then. The first was in the 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor," where he played the Tenth Doctor again. The second was a surprise cameo at the end of the 2022 special "The Power of the Doctor," where he portrayed the Fourteenth Doctor, taking over from Jodie Whittaker.

Tennant will continue to portray the Fourteenth Doctor in three 60th anniversary specials of Doctor Who, set to air in late November and early December. After that, he will pass the torch to Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor for Series 14 / Season 1, bringing his second tenure in the TARDIS to a close.

David Tennant: Doctor Who return “always a possibility”

However, this does not imply that fans have seen the final appearance of the Scottish actor. In a recent interview with SFX, Tennant hinted at the possibility of another return to Doctor Who, without making any firm commitments.

Tennant admitted that it would be disingenuous to rule out the possibility of being asked to star in Doctor Who again, considering the history. He acknowledged that while he can't guarantee it will happen, as long as he's still physically able to run down a corridor, there is always a chance. However, he made a solemn promise that he has no plans for it at the moment.

Tennant praises Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who performance

Tennant then proceeded to draw a parallel between his fictional return to Doctor Who and Patrick Stewart's reprisal of his titular role in Star Trek Picard at the age of 82. In a jesting manner, Tennant contemplated setting a similar goal for himself, stating, "Perhaps that should be my aim, to have one final adventure as the Doctor at 82. I'll have to wait for another 30 years," he playfully quipped.

Tennant, however, was much more sincere in his response concerning Gatwa as the conversation shifted. He genuinely admired his successor and spoke highly of showrunner Russell T Davies' choice to cast Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor. Tennant expressed excitement about the upcoming arrival of the Sex Education star, eagerly anticipating the impact he will have on the show.

Check out our guide to the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials to find out more about David Tennant’s return to the series.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I am thrilled at the prospect of David Tennant potentially returning to the show in the future. His portrayal of the Tenth Doctor was iconic and beloved by fans, and his brief appearance as the Fourteenth Doctor in "The Power of the Doctor" left us wanting more.

While it is understandable that Tennant may want to focus on other projects and give other actors a chance to shine, the idea of him making occasional appearances as the Doctor is an exciting one. It would allow the show to explore different aspects of the character and give fans a chance to see Tennant's unique take on the role again.